Cache Magazine

The Herald Journal

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razy about omics (Page 8)

Aug. 7-13, 2009

Page 2 - The Herald Journal - Cache Magazine - Friday, August 7, 2009

Cache The Herald Journal’s

Arts & Entertainment Calendar

What’s inside this week (Page 4) Has Dennis been caught in the funny trap?

Magazine

On the cover:

According to James Stephenson, owner of Skapple’s, there is a comic book for everyone. While a lot of kids come in to purchase books about Batman, Spiderman or Superman, Stephenson says there is a lot more to comics than the well-known superheroes. Read more about Skapple’s and the comic book world on Page 8. Photo illustration by Meegan M. Reid/Herald Journal

From the editor

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HIS WEEK I THOUGHT I would use this space to shamelessly promote (again!) a charity project I’m doing called “Cuddles from the Heart” — and I need your help!

I am collecting blankets for kids at Primary Children’s Medical Center and for kids and adult patients at Logan Regional Hospital. I decided to start this project in Utah after hearing about Stefenie Jacks, a mom in Iowa whose son Logan was born with congenital heart defects.

“Cuddles from the Heart is a project I started in 2008 to provide comforting items to children staying at the University of Iowa Children’s Hospital,” Stefenie wrote on her Care Page, www.care pages.com/carepages/loganbear. “Having spent a lot of time there myself with my son ... I know first hand what it means to these kids to feel like they are home and not in a hospital. I have been on the receiving end of many generous donations during our stays that included

Slow Wave

‘Live it up’ with the CVCA — a sneak preview of this year’s lineup

(Page 10)

Crossword..............p.13 Calendar.................p.14

jbaer@hjnews.com

blankets, toys and books. I have to be honest and let you know just how good it makes you feel to have such caring people take a moment of their own time to think of you. It can allow those having a very dark day see some rays of sunshine through the clouds.”

That year, Stefenie donated an amazing 350 blankets to kids stuck in the hospital. My goal is to beat that!

Here is some of the basic information: • Blankets can be handmade or store-bought.

• Donations must be turned in by Dec. 1.

• You can drop them off at the Herald Journal offices, either directly to me or there is a box in the front lobby.

• If you would like to make a donation or would like to be a part of this project, you can contact me at jbaer@hjnews.com or 752-2121 ext. 329.

• If you would like an official flyer to pass out or to keep for yourself, contact me.

Thank you in advance, and have a great weekend, everyone!

— Jamie Baer Nielson Cache Magazine editor

2009 Tabernacle Noon Music series comes to a close

(Page 12)

Cute

(Page 13) Another feature from The Adoption Exchange

pet photo of the week

This cat is available for adoption!

Pet: Blossom From: Cache Humane Society Why she’s so lovable: Blossom is a female Maine Coon kitten who is good with kids, dogs and other cats. She is up to date with her shots. To meet Blossom or other animals who need loving homes, visit the Cache Humane Society shelter at 2370 W. 200 North in Logan.

Bubbles’ ID number is S20095679. For more information, visit www.cachehumane.org, e-mail michael@cache humane.org or call 792-3920.

Send your favorite picture of your pet, along with your name and a couple paragraphs detailing why your pet’s so darn lovable, to Cache Magazine, 75 W. 300 N., Logan, UT 84321, or e-mail it all to jbaer@hjnews.com.

Slow Wave is created from real people’s dreams as drawn by Jesse Reklaw. Ask Jesse to draw your dream! Visit www.slowwave.com to find out how.

SNC to host mini summer camps

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natural surroundings as well as in the classroom. Students should wear closetoed shoes and bring sunscreen. Space is limited; pre-registration is required.

Who Lives Here?

9 to 11:30 a.m.

For children entering grades one, two and three Come spend three mornings exploring the animal life of Logan Canyon. Learn what animals live there and what kinds of habitats support them. What do squirrels eat? Where do hummingbirds hang out? How can we help wildlife survive in our backyards? Students will create a notebook of wild animal neighbors, their homes, tracks and foods. They’ll have a chance to observe wildlife in its

Animals of Logan Canyon 12:30 to 3 p.m.

For children entering grades four, five and six Explore the world of animals in beautiful Logan Canyon. Learn how scientists classify animals and how they observe animals in the wild. Discover how adaptations allow animals to live in diverse environments, what they need to survive and reproduce. Design experiments to test which food sources best suit the needs of animals in the wild.

Create a naturalist’s notebook of facts and observations about the abundant wildlife in your own backyard. Cast a track, find a nest or den, feed a hummingbird. Students should wear closetoed shoes and bring sunscreen. Space is limited; pre-registration is required.

TOKES NATURE Center’s Young Naturalist Mini Summer Camps will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 11, 12 and 13. Cost is $24 per child ($19 for SNC members). A limited number of scholarships are available.

For more information or to sign up, call 755-3239 or visit www.logannature.org.

Camps include:

Join a stargazing party at the AWHC T HE AMERICAN West Heritage Center will host a Star Party from 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, Aug. 14. Admission starts at $5. The Heritage Center’s relative isolation makes for some good stargazing. Other special activities are planned for the event, too, including a Glow-inthe-Dark Tea Party with treats, games and other activities; the StarLab planetarium featuring hands-on presentations of American Indian stories about constellations; wagon and pony rides; a starry navigation

treasure hunt; a stained-glass star craft; star stories; starry music jam (bring an instrument to play); and more.

Experts will also be on hand to help partygoers identify the various constellations and their stories.

When the Earth in its orbit passes through the tail of a comet, meteor showers occur as tiny specks of dust enter and burn in the atmosphere. The Perseid show is often among the finest showers in terms of brightness and frequency. On a good night, sky watchers may see one or two shooting

Songwriter Tom Kimmel up next at Crumb Bros.

HE BRIDGER FOLK MUSIC T Society will present an evening with award-winning songwriter Tom Kimmel at

Visitors enjoy a Glow-in-the-Dark Tea Party at last year’s stargazing event.

stars per minute.

Visitors are encouraged to bring their own telescopes, binoculars and blankets.

Participants who bring their own telescopes to share get two free tickets to the party.

The American West Heritage Center is a non-profit organization located seven miles south of Logan on Highway 89-91. For more information, contact David Sidwell at dsidwell@awhc.org.

Page 3 - The Herald Journal - Cache Magazine - Friday, August 7, 2009

All mixed up

7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Crumb Brothers Bakery, 291 S. 300 West, Logan. Tickets are $10 and available by calling 7573468. Seating is very limited, so advance purchase is recommended.

Tom Kimmel is one of those unique singer-songwriters whose heartfelt artistry with words and music is both genre-crossing and timeless.

Kimmel Since 1980, when his songs were recorded by Roger McGuinn & Chris Hillman and Levon Helm, dozens of his compositions have been covered by a host of major artists. For more information, visit www.tom kimmel.com or www.bridgerfolk.org.

‘Live it up’ with the CVCA * A sneak preview of this year’s lineup! * “To Kill a Mockingbird”

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“Annie” W When: Jan. 26 and 27 W How much: $26, $30, $34, $38

he timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie is back giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. Boasting one of Broadway’s most memorable scores, including “It’s the Hard-Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “N.Y.C.” and the ever-optimistic “Tomorrow,” Annie is a delightful theatrical experience for the entire family.

W When: Sept. 24 and 25 W How much: $21, $26, $28, $32

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he play based on Harper Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel continues to compel and delight viewers worldwide with its warmth, wit and wisdom. Montana Repertory Theatre’s production is as moving, poignant and resonant as when it first burst upon the literary landscape. This classic American tale of acceptance, racial inequality and forgiveness continues to reach a new generation of theatergoers with its power and inspiration.

Dein Perry’s Tap Dogs W When: Oct. 8 and 9 W How much: $26, $30, $34, $38

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he international sensation is back in North America and ready to leave dents on stages everywhere. Tap Dogs is rough, tough, rocking theatrical entertainment. Winner of 11 International Awards, Tap Dogs has been a howling success all across North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Sophie Milman W When: Oct. 20 and 21 W How much: $16, $18, $20, $22

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ophie Milman has toured the world, playing night after night of sold-out performances to her adoring fans from Tokyo to New York. A massive star in Canada, the sultry Torontobased, Russian-born chanteuse won a Juno, Canada’s Grammy, with her second CD, “Make Someone Happy.” Backed by a handsome four-piece band, Milman adds urban sophistication and a fresh new voice to the international jazz scene.

Eileen Ivers W When: March 1 and 2 W How much: $21, $26, $28, $32

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ileen Ivers has been described as the “Jimi Hendrix of the violin.” The Bronx-born Irish-American is a ninetime All-Ireland fiddle champion, original music star of Riverdance, a founding member of Cherish the Ladies and a best-selling recording artist. Her 2009 tour “Beyond the Bog Road” is a riveting multimedia performance that celebrates Ireland with an all-star assemblage.

Everything you need to know:

The King’s Singers W When: Oct. 26 and 27 W How much: $26, $30, $34, $38

“Live it up” at the Ellen Eccles Theatre with the 2009-10 CVCA Performing Arts Season. Tickets for the entire season will go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17. All events start at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. Tickets are available with a wide variety of discounts and can be purchased at the box office (43 S. Main) or at www.CenterForThe Arts.us. To request a copy of the 2009-10 season mailer and to be added to the CVCA’s e-mail list, call 435-752-0026. Ticket order forms are provided in the annual season brochure mailer or can be downloaded at www.CenterForTheArts. us. If you would like to buy your tickets now, consider becoming a Member of the Center. Call 435753-6518 ext. 10 to find out more.

Members get all the perks!

F The Bar J Wranglers W When: Dec. 19, 1:30 & 7:30 p.m.

W How much: $16, $18, $20, $22

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he Bar J Wranglers are back at the Ellen Eccles Theatre. Warm up the holiday season with a little cowboy poetry, stellar musicianship and a healthy dose of downhome ranch humor. Bring the whole herd for a toe-tapping, side-splitting, wranglin’ time with these ever-popular Jackson Hole cowpokes.

rom medieval to renaissance, romantic to contemporary, folk and pop, The King’s Singers’ repertoire is all encompassing. Celebrating 41 years of music, this popular UK sextet has been delighting audiences around the globe with their charm, wit and incomparable musicianship. England’s premier vocal choral ensemble is one of the world’s most sought-after and highly acclaimed groups.

Cherryholmes

“The Hobbit” W When: Oct. 26 and 27 W How much: $26, $30, $34, $38

W When: Nov. 17 and 18 W How much: $17, $22, $24, $27

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giant theatrical puppet production based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic novel “The Hobbit,” Théâtre Sans Fil brings to life the wonderful journey of Bilbo Baggins. The company’s name means “theater without strings,” combining the wizardry of contemporary technical theater and the expressive style of Bunraku. This highly successful, larger-than-life production has received awards and standing ovations throughout the world.

ominated for two Grammys in 2009 including Best Bluegrass Album and Best Country Instrumental, this family of six has created a bluegrass sound that explodes with exuberant fiddle, expert banjo and passionate harmonies.

With energy to spare, their live shows include twin fiddles, Irish step-dancing, classic country yodeling and even some soulful gospel singing.

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Diavolo

Leon Redbone

W When: March 9 and 10 W How much: $21, $26, $28, $32

W When: April 20 and 21 W How much: $16, $18, $20, $22

he ultimate in artistic risk-taking, this acrobatic dance company uses pure athleticism to create theatrical, movementbased dance. The dancers and gymnasts of Diavolo use a variety of everyday, largerthan-life objects as set pieces to dance on, off, over and through. These dramatic feats create a hyper cinematic experience like nothing you’ve ever seen.

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eon Redbone is one of the world’s most mysterious and fascinating performers and pop culture icons. He is known for his distinctive fedora, dark glasses, mustache and scruffy baritone voice. This Neo-Vaudevillian crooner captivates audiences with a combination of pre-World War II ragtime, urban folk, jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley classics.

Page 6 - The Herald Journal - Cache Magazine - Friday, August 7, 2009

Film New this week “G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra” Rated PG-13 (85%) A review for “G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra” was not available from The Associated Press. In lieu, please accept this synopsis from www.RottenTomatoes.com: “Paramount Pictures and Hasbro join forces with Spyglass Entertainment for another extraordinary actionadventure, ‘G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.’ From the Egyptian desert to deep below the polar ice caps, the elite G.I. Joe team uses the latest in next-generation spy and military equipment to fight the corrupt arms dealer Destro and the growing threat of the mysterious Cobra organization to prevent them from plunging the world into chaos.” PG-13 for strong sequences of action violence and mayhem throughout. 118 min.

“A Perfect Getaway” Rated R ★★ The whole movie is essentially one big red herring, flopping around on an idyllic Hawaiian beach, desperately trying to call attention to itself. Everyone’s a suspect and no one’s a suspect, and writer-director David Twohy’s raison d’etre with this thriller — aside from jolting us — is to mess with our brains and keep us guessing until he reveals his Big Twist. It’s not as earth-shattering as “Bruce Willis is actually dead,” but it’s a pretty good one, and it’ll make you go back and think twice about what the characters did and said to make sure it all makes sense.

It does, but it’s also a gimmick, and a self-conscious one at that.

One of the travelers on this supposedly perfect island vacation keeps talking about screenwriting devices like red herrings (though he mistakenly calls them

red snappers) and second-act twists. This is not nearly as cute as Twohy seems to think. But you could just ignore all that, though, and give in to the many B-movie conventions “A Perfect Getaway” has to offer: skeevy hitchhikers and strangers in the jungle, skinny dipping and girlon-girl fistfights. It’s ridiculous but fun. Steve Zahn and Milla Jovovich co-star as newlyweds Cliff and Cydney, who spend their honeymoon backpacking to a remote beach in Hawaii. Along the way they run into two other couples: Nick and Gina (Timothy Olyphant and Kiele Sanchez), who seem friendly enough if a bit trashy and brazen, and Kale and Cleo (Chris Hemsworth and Marley Shelton), who try to bum a ride in their Jeep but seem way too obviously unhinged. R for graphic violence, language including sexual references and some drug use. 98 min.

“Julie & Julia” Rated PG-13 ★★ The Julia parts are a delight, but the ones about Julie? More like an annoying distraction.

Writer-director Nora Ephron has woven together the real-life stories of two women separated by decades and a body of water but connected by a love of food and a quest for identity. One is Julia Child (Meryl Streep), the largerthan-life TV cook and author who inspired untold numbers of ambitious gourmands to embrace French cuisine the way she had.

The other is Julie Powell (Amy Adams), a New York cubicle dweller who spent a year making all 524 recipes in Child’s “Mastering the Art of French Cooking” and blogging about it. Ephron cuts back and forth between their lives — reminiscent of her earlier hits “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail” — and too often spells out the obvious

parallels. But the more time we spend with Julia, the less we want to spend with Julie. Streep is an absolute hoot, portraying Child with a mix of sweetness, awkwardness and most of all an unabashed joie de vivre. When she casts aside the baggage of being “the greatest living actress of our generation” and revels in her inner goofball, as she did in “Mamma Mia!” it’s infectious.

She’s also lovely alongside Stanley Tucci as Julia’s adoring husband, Paul; all that tension they created as co-stars in “The Devil Wears Prada” has transformed into a different kind of chemistry. Julie, by contrast, isn’t so well-defined. The deeper she delves into her cooking project, the more whiny, narcissistic and unlikable she becomes — which is surprising given Adams’ seemingly boundless charm. PG-13 for brief strong language and some sensuality. 123 min.

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OVIES ABOUT pregnancy all too often feature mad dashes to the maternity ward, delivery-room histrionics and bumbling, hovering relatives.

“Away We Go” rejects those cliches and instead takes an honest, humorous and ultimately moving look at the prospect of a family growing from two members to three.

Husband-and-wife writers Dave Eggers and Vendela Vida were inspired by becoming parents themselves — they now have two kids — but didn’t draw from their own experiences in writing the script. Nevertheless, the characters’ adventures feel real and relatable.

John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph are lovely together as Burt and Verona, a couple in their 30s on the brink of having their first child who travel North America searching for the best place to settle down. Both actors have made their names with TV comedy — he with “The Office,” she with “Saturday Night Live” — and while they enjoy plenty of funny scenes in “Away We Go,” they also reveal an unexpected capacity for drama with effortless grace.

It’s also a nice surprise to see such a small film come from director Sam Mendes, better known for the stylish visuals and big-name casts of “American Beauty,” “Road to Perdition” and “Revolutionary Road.” This feels like the kind of indie that’s often described as a labor of love: intimate and unadorned.

Aisle Seat

By The Associated Press

★★★ 1/2

“Away We Go” Rated R A stop in Phoenix reunites them with Verona’s former coworker (Allison Janney), who’s obnoxious around her own kids, and her clueless husband (Jim Gaffigan).

Maggie Gyllenhaal is awesome in her self-seriousness as a childhood friend of Burt’s and a mother of two with her stay-at-home dad partner (Josh Hamilton). A professor at Wisconsin who goes by the name LN, she isn’t shy about sharing her touchy-feely, NewAgey and judgmental parenting advice, and the laughs grow with the scene’s absurdity.

Meanwhile, a visit to college pals in Montreal (Melanie Lynskey and Chris Messina) offers a glimpse of the hopeful side of becoming a mother and father, but it also includes the rare moments that feel uncomfortable and don’t quite work.

Burt and Verona, who’s six months along, realize there’s nothing keeping them in their ramshackle house in suburban Denver. They can do their jobs anywhere and Burt’s parents (a wonderfully weird Jeff Daniels and Catherine O’Hara), who live nearby, are about to move out of the country just as the baby’s coming — providing one of many examples to Burt

and Verona of the kind of parents they don’t want to be.

So they visit a series of cities that interest them, hoping to find one that’s a good fit.

Burt and Verona take all this insanity in stride; one of the subtlest and best parts of “Away We Go” is the comfort the two leads have together.

They tease and support each other and they’re clearly in love, ready to face whatever happens as a team. The story provides no contrived melodrama; what’s about to happen to them in a few months is dramatic enough.

Having said that, “Away We Go” does have its tear-jerker moments, though it doesn’t try too hard to achieve them.

In Tucson, Ariz., Verona has a touching exchange with her sister (Carmen Ejogo) about becoming a mother now that their own mother is deceased.

And the last few shots express beautifully and almost wordlessly what it means to find home, wherever that may be.

“Away We Go,” a Focus Features release, is rated R for language and some sexual content. Running time: 90 minutes.

Three and a half stars out of four.

Page 7 - The Herald Journal - Cache Magazine - Friday, August 7, 2009

‘Away We Go’ a lovely trip toward parenthood

Photo/illustration by Meegan M. Reid

The crew of Skapple’s comics, from left: Ethan Fallis, James Stephenson and Morgan Stephenson.

Skapple’s is located at 106 N. Church St. For more information, call 213-9293.

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ccording to James Stephenson, there is a comic book for everyone.

Stephenson is the owner of Skapple’s, a store specializing in comic books, collectible card games and graphic novels. While a lot of kids come in to purchase books about Batman, Spiderman or Superman, Stephenson says there is a lot more to comics than the well-known superheroes.

His best-selling title right now is “Fables,” a comic book series including fairy tale characters such as Snow White and the Big Bad Wolf. He also has political selections such as “Barack the Barbarian,” which focuses on a G.I. Joelooking President Obama taking on his nemesis, Red Sarah, who is dressed in a wolf skin and Sarah Palin’s famous spectacles.

A lot of his customers stop by out of curiosity while walking past the shop located on Church Street near Caffe Ibis and the Italian Place.

“The walk-in traffic that I get is not what you would think of as the comic book crowd — like the hygienically challenged and the guy that still lives with his mom,” said Stephenson. “Eighty percent of the customers have probably been young females from probably 17 to 24.”

He said a lot of boys who have seen superhero cartoons will stop in, as well as girls who might pick up issues of T.Runt, a comic book about a baby T-Rex. A lot of interest in comics comes from watching TV or movies like “The Dark Knight” and “Iron Man.”

Stephenson said it’s usually pretty easy to find a comic book that matches a customer’s taste by simply asking what types of shows the shopper likes. Stephenson said he grew up watching superhero cartoons on Saturdays and after school but didn’t ever get into comic books until college, when he got a job at Mystic Comics in Logan. He originally wanted the job because he liked to play the

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“I grew up here,” he said. “I’m a big native. When I was in high school I used to cut school all the time because there was a card shop right next door and there was one here as well. So I really like this location. I really like this neighborhood. It’s some of my history.”

Skapple’s opened May 18 and has a few shelves of comic books and two tables where customers can play Magic or the card game

razy about omics

card games sold there. After he was hired, his manager told Stephenson he should read the books to be familiar with them and he ended up being surprised by how good they were. Mystic Comics closed about five years ago.

With the help of several of his friends who wanted to see a new comic book store in Logan, Stephenson started remodeling the little brown building where Skapple’s is located in January. He said it was the same place he used to come to play card games in high school.

World of Warcraft, which are both sold in the store. While he says the business is doing all right he’s hoping more people who watch comic book movies will take their interest further and buy the books.

“What I’m worried about is that people will, when they see a movie, they’ll say, ‘That’s really cool,’ and that will be enough. You know what I mean? The curiosity doesn’t go further than that,” he said. “They’re not reading. They don’t have an interest in creating art or writing. They’re just con-

sumers. I hope I’m wrong and that it proves to be that there are a lot of people that want to be well-read.”

Stephenson’s sister, Morgan Stephenson, works at Skapple’s and said reading comics is like watching TV and reading a novel at the same time.

“The thing about comics is it’s the best of both worlds,” she said.

Comic books have changed throughout the years with more people buying multiple issues in one book rather than individually.

Stephenson compares this to buying DVD box sets, adding it’s a cheaper way to get the whole story at once.

Another change in comic books is they way women are portrayed.

Stephenson said in the in past, women were always drawn with large breasts and tiny waists and although they had powers, they were always the characters to get caught by villains. Now, however, comic books are starting to show strong, independent, powerful women with very colorful and captivating art.

Morgan said she didn’t read comics until she started working at her brother’s store and now she can’t stop buying them. Her favorite part about working there is getting the books on store credit.

For Ethan Fallis, another employee at Skapple’s, the best part of working at the store is the people who come in.

“I like meeting new people that enjoy the comics as much as I do and the card game,” he said. “Just how happy they are. You seem to notice this among comic readers.

They’re just so happy.”

— By Manette Newbold

Page 10 - The Herald Journal - Cache Magazine - Friday, August 7, 2009

Comedians get caught in the funny trap

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FEEL SORRY FOR the new Democratic senator of Minnesota, Al Franken.

Sure, we have had lots of former actors and athletes, gays, straights and assorted other crazies, but Franken will be the fist openly comedian politician.

Sen. Franken was on “Saturday Night Live,” wrote several books of satire and had his own humorous radio show. He made quite a good living being funny.

I wish him well, but I know from experience that Humor Road is a one-way street. Once you go down the comedy path, it’s hard to ever be taken seriously again. Every time he speaks, people will be waiting for the punch line. Everyone who speaks to him will be wondering if they will be mocked in his next book. I doubt he will be able to get anything done.

It has probably been more than 15 years since I was taken seriously about anything and I know there is no escape from the perilous pit of mirth. Humor is one of the least curable of psychosis, but I have spent considerable time studying its symptoms.

This is what most people don’t understand about comedy: 1. Comedians don’t tell jokes; they do bits or routines. Jokes almost by definition are something you heard from someone else. Comedians do original material. The only people who

Slightly Off Center

By Dennis Hinkamp

tell jokes are politicians with speechwriters and after-dinner speakers who always start off with “a funny thing happened on the way to the dinner tonight ...”

2. The most annoying thing you can say to a comedian at a party or dinner is “Hey, do something for us.” We don’t ask other people to perform their jobs at dinner parties. “Hey Bob, while we’re waiting for our pie, could you climb under my car and check for that transmission leak?”

3. Most comedians have never been on TV. Club comedy is much different than talk show or sitcom comedy. There are hundreds of comedians doing

sleazy, one-night stands in a town near you who will never be on TV. They are the equivalent of bar bands trying to get a recording contract.

4. TV is ruining comedy.

TV takes the best 30 seconds from every performer and turns them into sound bites. I have sensed younger audiences actually appear to be waiting for the laugh track to start before they can decide if something is funny.

5. Most comedians don’t make stuff up. Few would do a joke about growing up in an alcoholic home unless they really did. Comedy is related to acting, but you rarely take on a persona that is different than your own.

6. Most comedians spend unhealthy amounts of time mining their own psyches for

Help make a difference!

Bring in your homemade or store-bought blankets for donation to Logan Regional

Cuddles from the Heart Donations must be made by Dec. 1, 2009, and can be dropped off at The Herald Journal, 75 W. 300 North, Logan. For more information, e-mail HeartCuddles@ yahoo.com or call 792-7229.

Hospital and Primary Children’s Medical Center!

material. Like some writers, they also get caught up in “living life’s dark edges” in search of more material. One comedian friend told me she was looking forward to getting divorced so she could have more divorce material.

7. Working for audience approval brings extreme highs and extreme lows. The feedback is immediate, unlike writing, work or marriage, where your judgment comes much later.

You can die a hundred times in 10 minutes. If the crowd is too drunk or you fail to convince them that this well-rehearsed stuff is coming off the top of your head, you will become the loneliest person in the world.

8. If you see a comedian twice, he or she will likely give about the same show as the first time. It takes years to work up

a good 30-minute routine so you have to keep using it and either move to a new location or hope the audiences forget.

Once everyone knows your punch lines, your show has no value. It is not like music where people will pay to see The Rolling Stones play “Honky Tonk Woman” for the billionth time.

9. David Letterman’s popularity has convinced everybody to think that funny stuff has to come in lists of 10s.

Dennis Hinkamp seriously hopes this helps you understand humor. He is among a number of freelance writers whose columns appear in The Herald Journal as part of an effort to expose readers to a variety of community voices. He is not an employee of the newspaper. Feedback at dhinkamp@msn.com.

Study probes lives of 3 brothers in ‘Rock’

By The Associated Press

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WINDOW INTO THE lives of three Puerto Rican brothers slides open during their teenage years, affording readers a raw glimpse of their struggles with love, drugs and violence in a sociological study that spans nearly two decades.

We learn how Sammy Rivera does lines of coke in his sixth-grade classroom; how his older brother Fausto watches as an inmate eviscerates another with his bare hands; how the eldest brother, Julio, is the glue that holds the family together.

“When a Heart Turns Rock Solid” succeeds because author Timothy Black makes readers care about his subjects — or at least their stories — which are presented in a somewhat sympathetic light. Although Black relies heavily on dry data to explain how impoverished communities are affected by economic and political forces, the story of the three brothers remains captivating.

Despite enduring racist attitudes toward Puerto Ricans and a meager high school education, the brothers achieve varying degrees of sobriety, discipline and self-love as they grow up in Springfield, Mass., in the 1990s.

They occasionally abandon street life when they discover a sense of purpose through family, women or work.

“I know how you must feel about

your teaching,” Sammy tells the author as he attends culinary school, “because now I’m feeling passionate about something like you.”

Julio is the most accomplished, earning accolades as a high school wrestler and football player. He becomes the first of the family to graduate from high school and manages to build a solid street credibility.

Few mess with the trained boxer and ruthless gang member.

Fausto seeks to emulate his older brother’s successes, but flunking grades encouraged by a system that pushes him to the next grade level despite his near-illiteracy prevents him from joining any sports team.

However, his charisma and intellectual capacity override his shortcomings.

He is tapped at the last minute to give a speech at school, prompting his teacher to praise his poise and confidence. He also thrives at his job

with the Boys Club, where his supervisor describes him as a “godsend.”

But he later struggles to fill out an application to work there again, embarrassed to let anyone know he can barely read or write.

Sammy also struggles in school and is the first to join the drug-dealing trade. He relishes how naive, potsmoking white teens from a nearby town are impressed with him and the supposed ghetto he comes from.

He takes them on a “field trip” to Springfield at their request, but upon arriving there, doesn’t know what to do with them, so he takes them to his mom’s house for a meal.

Humor helps them navigate from one disappointment to another, but they remain aware of their failures.

Julio manages to avoid drugs, but Fausto and Sammy fall prey to heroin. They also serve time in prison for various crimes and struggle to find normalcy after their release.

“The effects of prison you don’t see ’em right away,” Fausto says. “A lot of those things really break you, right, they disturb you — they disturb a part of your brain that’s not meant to be disturbed.”

The book has the same effect, if only by challenging your assumptions about the extent that external forces and a lack of individual responsibility and determination are to blame for the plight of marginalized communities.

‘Girl Who Played With Fire’ is a page-turner

By The Associated Press

S

WEDISH CRIME writer Stieg Larsson’s “The Girl Who Played With Fire” marks the return of Lisbeth Salander, a young woman who could be the female Jason Bourne. She’s a mysterious, emotionally detached computer hacker who coolly observes the world around her as a puzzle she needs to master to feel secure.

She was a main character in Larsson’s “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” where she helped rogue Swedish journalist Mikael Blomkvist solve a murder. In that book, Salander and Blomkvist forged an unlikely alliance, and their relationship became sexual.

“The Girl Who Played With Fire” is easier to follow than “Dragon Tattoo” — and more interesting. It’s an intelligent, fascinating story that draws readers in and keeps them turning the page.

This time, Salander has cut herself off completely from Blomkvist. She wants nothing to do with him because Salander realizes that she had developed strong feelings for him. She can’t handle that type of intimacy or vulnerability.

They become involved again when Salander is accused of murder. Blomkvist is the only one who believes she’s innocent of the crime.

While Larsson’s first book had a subplot about business, this one calls attention to Sweden’s sex trade.

Young women are kidnapped and forced into prostitution.

It’s fun to experience the world through Salander’s eyes. She’s a fearless femme fatale who is always a step ahead of everyone else. And it’s refreshing to see a strong (although flawed) young woman who can fend for herself — and take on the bad guys.

The author died of a heart attack in 2004 at age 50. He left behind the manuscripts of three books. The first, “Dragon Tattoo,” became an international success. The third installment, “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest,” will be released in the U.S next year.

Page 11 - The Herald Journal - Cache Magazine - Friday, August 7, 2009

Book reviews

Page 12 - The Herald Journal - Cache Magazine - Friday, August 7, 2009

Tabernacle Noon Music series comes to a close

T

he 2009 Noon Music at the Tabernacle comes to a close this weekend. Concerts start at noon. Admission is free and all are welcome. For more information, visit www.cachecommunityconnections.com. The 2009 Encore program will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. Be sure to check next week’s Cache Magazine for more information on the concert lineup.

Organ Festival (Aug. 7)

• Kelvin Smith grew up in Salt Lake City, where he studied organ with Clay Christiansen. He began playing the organ for church at age 11 and served as ward organist and stake organist before going to BYU. He also performed with the Utah Symphony in the Salute to Youth Concert in the Salt Lake LDS Tabernacle at age 17. He received a master’s degree from BYU in 1992 in organ performance. While at BYU he was involved in choral music, singing with concert choir under Mack Wilberg for several semesters and as assistant director of the University Chorale. He played the Carillon for BYU for several years and taught group organ classes. He has been a guest organist at the Salt Lake LDS Tabernacle for the noon organ recitals on numerous occasions.

years and has served as accompanist for numerous community events and soloists. She is currently the rehearsal accompanist for the American Festival Chorus under the direction of Craig Jessop. Karla is married to Bruce Axtell; they have six daughters, two sons and seven grandchildren. She currently serves as organist in her church ward and has played the organ for many special meetings at the Logan LDS Tabernacle.

She has accompanied the Cache Children’s Cantate Choir in the tabernacle, in the Assembly Hall in Salt Lake City and in various churches during their 1997 England Tour. Karla is currently studying with organist Brandon Clayton.

• Karla Axtell completed her bachelor of music degree with piano emphasis in spring 2008 at USU. She has studied and taught piano intermittently over the years, accompanied the Cache Children’s Cantate Choir during the past 20

• Janis Siggard & Vivian Blanchard, formerly known as the Haderlie Sisters, have been playing together for many years. After attending Logan city schools and graduating from USU, Janis moved to Price with her husband, Derral Siggard, and Vivian moved to Tremonton with her husband, Wayne Blanchard.

Recently, both couples moved back to Logan and are enjoying making music together again.

• Lynn Jemison-Keisker is an associate professor and director of opera theater for Utah State University’s music department. She is a coach-accompanist, conductor and administrator who has adjudicated for the MET, NATS, Birmingham and Denver Lyric opera competitions. She has been a member of the MTNA National Steering Committee for Ensemble Pianists and a member of the Temple Square Performances Advisory Board. Currently she is a member of the district board for the Metropolitan Opera national auditions. She has been awarded grants for concerts and master classes in England, Bolivia, Guatemala and El Salvador.

Dr. Keisker has also been the music

Celebrate America preview

T

(Aug. 8)

he Logan tabernacle will be energized with music from the bigband era as singers and dancers from the popular “Celebrate America” show present the final noon concert on Saturday, Aug. 9.

Enjoy music from the Keystone Cops to Doo-Wap with a preview of the show’s 10-year anniversary, “Yankee Doodle Dazzle,” a toe-tapping, star-spangled revue of music from yesteryear, including “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “Embraceable You,” “Goodnight Sweetheart,” “St. Louis Blues March,” “Moonglow,” “Perfedia,” “Elmer’s Tune,” “Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree,” “All That Jazz,” “Willimania” and more. To celebrate their 10th year, the show has commissioned a special arrangement that combines two of Master Showman George M. Cohan’s lively patriotic tunes into a spectacular finale, “Yankee Doodle Dazzle!”

administrator, head coach for the Utah Festival Opera Company, as well as on the music staff of Seattle Opera and the Northwest Wagner Festival, Opera San Jose, Canada Opera Piccola, San Francisco Opera’s Western Opera Theatre, Ohio Light Opera, West Bay Opera, Natchez Opera Festival, Utah Opera, the University of Washington, San Jose State University and Louisiana State University. She has bachelor and master of music degrees in piano and accompanying from the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati and a doctorate of musical arts degree in accompanying from the University of Southern California. Keisker began her organ studies while still in high school with faculty members of Ohio University and continued an organ minor while at the University of Cincinnati, as well as harpsichord at the University of Southern California. From 1968 to the present, she has held music director positions as an organist/choir director and recitalist in Ohio, California, Louisiana and Utah.

Keisker currently appears in recital, teaches master classes and adjudicates in addition to her duties at USU. She has performed with such international artists as Stanford Olsen, Cynthia Lawrence, Vladimir Grishko, Robert McFarland, Pamela Hinchman and Chinese erhu virtuoso Xe Ku.

www.ThemeCrosswords.com

Perseverance

By Myles Mellor and Sally York 1

“Perseverance” by Myles Mellor and Sally York

Contact The Adoption Exchange at 1-866-872-7212

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• This very loving youngster really likes playing with his toys and collecting small items. He is captivated by how things are put together and enjoys figuring out how to take things apart. When it comes to food, Lloyd is easy to please. Hot dogs and milk are at the top of this guy’s list. He has a very cute personality and is energetic and playful. He likes to be around people, participate in events and soak up affection. He responds well to positive reinforcement and does best in environments and activities that are scheduled and structured.

• A ready smile and a bright, beautiful personality make this teen a joy to be around. Felicia is an intelligent, strong young woman who continues to make positive progress in many different arenas in her life.

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Page 13 - The Herald Journal - Cache Magazine - Friday, August 7, 2009

Crossword

Page 14 - The Herald Journal - Cache Magazine - Friday, August 7, 2009

Calendar Ongoing events Booth applications are now being accepted for the 2009 Novemberfest Arts and Crafts Fair, an annual Christmas craft and entertainment show scheduled to run Nov. 27 and 28 at the Logan Rec Center. For more information, contact Charlene at 5129745 or Nina at 752-8142.

Free self-empowerment/stress relief classes are offered by the Cosmic Nudge every Monday from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; every Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m.; and every Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Whittier Community Center, 290 N. 400 East, Logan.

For more information, call 563-1188.

Friday All are invited to participate in a Peace Vigil every Friday between 5 and 6 p.m. on the east side of Main Street between Center Street and 100 North in Logan. For more information, e-mail info@loganpeace.org or call 755-5137.

Stokes Nature Center will host Parent Tot Nature Hour from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday.

Toddlers ages 2 and 3 are invited to explore animals, plans and nature through music, crafts and games. All kids must have a parent pal present. Cost is $3 ($2.50 for SNC members). To register, call 755-3239.

Cool Kid Collective and The Castanettes (CD release) will perform with Sell You Beautiful and Michael Graves (rock/powerpop/acoustic) at 8 p.m. Friday at Why Sound, 30 Federal Ave., Logan. Cover charge is $5. For more information, visit www. myspace.com/whysound.

Rick Walton, author of more than 70 picture books, will host a Picture Book Writing and Publishing Workshop from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday in North Logan. Cost is $80. To register or for more information, contact Judy Torres at 881-8191 or jtorres888@gmail.com.

A new market for fresh fruits, vegetables and bakery products is open from 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays and from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays in front of the Historic Cache County Courthouse in downtown Logan. All growers, producers, bakers and consumers are invited.

For more information, contact Brad at 7704757 or Richard at 435-890-0215.

A Dementia Care Conference will take place from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Friday at Bridgerland Applied Technology College. This conference will provide information and education for professional and family caregivers to better equip them with tools, techniques and caring for a loved one in difficult economic times. Cost is $25 and includes a continental breakfast and lunch. CEU credits for nurses, insurance agents and long-term care administrators are available. To register, call 1-800-272-3900.

Saturday The Golden Spike National Historic Site will host the 33rd annual Railroader’s Festival from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the visitor’s center in Brigham City. Re-enactments of the

Lake Spike Ceremony will occur at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Admission is free for all games, activities and entertainment. Food will be available for purchase. For more information, call 435-471-2209 ext. 29.

The Cache Public Shooting Range and the Cache Valley Vaqueros will host a Cowboy Action Shoot match at 9 a.m. Saturday at the shooting range, 2851 W. 200 North, Logan. Rules of the Single Action Shooting Society will apply. Cost is $7 per shooter. Eye and ear protection required; spectators welcome. For more information, contact Bruce at 563-9371 or Rich at 770-9399 or 787-8131.

Local author Cami Checketts will sign copies of her newest book, “The Sister Pact,” from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Borders.

Stokes Nature Center will host “Plants: How Do They Deal?” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. Naturalists Joanna Hsu and Kayo Robertson will lead a quiet walk among the many interesting plants that live along the Logan River and share stories of ecology: relation, food, fiber, medicine and spirit. Cost is $4 ($3 for SNC members). For more information or to register, call 755-3239 or e-mail nature@logannature.org.

Utah State University’s Museum of Anthropology continues its “Saturdays at the Museum” series with a look at how cultures around the world use stories to explain weather. Activities for children and adults are planned. Activities start at 11 a.m. and continue through 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 797-7545.

Danny Royer will perform cowboy music and poetry from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Pioneer Valley Lodge, 2351 N. 400 East, North Logan.

A fundraiser for the Child and Family Support Center will be held from 1 to 5 p.m.

Saturday in the Cache Valley Mall parking lot behind Cal Ranch. Ages 12-18 are invited to help; for one hour of service you will receive free entrance to the Logan Aquatic Center that night from 7:30 to 9:30. Come help wash cars, tie fleece blankets, paint blocks and assemble care packages for the children who stay at the center before entering foster care. For $1 you can get a pop and cookie, buy a balloon, dunk someone in the dunking machine or compete in a basketball game. There will be a $5 basic car wash, $10 car wash that includes a coupon to a local eatery or a $15 super deluxe car wash that will also include entry into a drawing for free hotel stays, restaurant gift certificates and Lagoon season passes. For more information, call 750-6677.

Katie Lewis will perform with Paul Christiansen (acoustic) at 8 p.m. Saturday at Why Sound. Cover charge is $5.

Bridgerland Literacy’s Bookcrossing stops at the Gardeners’ Market every Saturday morning. For more information, call 753-1270.

The Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Saturday at Merlin Olsen Park, 200 E. 100 South, Logan.

Enjoy live music while shopping for fresh produce and plants, handmade crafts, eggs, bread, cheese and more. For more information, visit www.gardenersmarket.org.

Sunday The Post-Mormon Community is a nonsectarian organization of individuals and families who have left Mormonism. The Cache Valley chapter meets for dinner and socializing every Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at a local restaurant. Newcomers welcome. For more information, call 770-4263.

Monday A Homemade Root Beer Kegger will start at 2:30 p.m. Monday at Pioneer Valley Lodge.

Everyone is invited.

Common Ground Outdoor Adventures will host a cycling activity at 5 p.m.

Monday. A variety of adaptive cycles are available to people of all abilities are encouraged to participate. Cost is $3. Volunteers are always welcome. For more information, visit www.cgadventures.org or call 713-0288.

Speakeasy Tiger will perform with The Deception (pop/electro/indie) at 8 p.m.

Monday at Why Sound. Cover charge is $6.

Tuesday The second annual USU Youth Ballroom Dance Camp will be held Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the HPER building on campus. Students of all ages will receive instruction in various styles of ballroom dance including swing, samba, quickstep, hustle and more. The camp also includes lunches, camp activities and a Tshirt. For more information, including age categories, lesson schedules and applicable fees, visit www.enlightballroom.com.

The Youth Conservatory at Utah State University will hold two open house information and registration nights for fall semester, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and again on Aug. 25 in the Kent Concert Hall lobby of the Chase Fine Arts Center at USU. Classes and lessons begin Monday, Aug. 31.

The Youth Conservatory offers private piano lessons and group musicianship classes for ages 4-18. Students at all levels are welcome.

Parents are encouraged to bring their children with them to registration to ensure proper placement. For more information, visit www. usu.edu/ycpiano or call 797-3018.

Bonnie and Elaine from the Macey’s deli will present hors d’oeuvres and a fruit medley basket at a free cooking and community class from 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Providence Macey’s Little Theater. Seating is limited; to reserve a spot, call 753-3301.

The Association for Wise Childbearing will show the film “Orgasmic Birth, the Best Kept Secret” (part 1) from 6 to 7 p.m.

Tuesday at the Whittier Community Center, 290 N. 400 East, Logan. Cost is $2 per person. For more information, e-mail wise.child bearing@gmail.com.

Wednesday The Cache Valley Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol meets from 6:30 to 9 p.m. every Wednesday at the Military Science building

on the campus of USU. CAP is the auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force and runs a JROTC program for students ages 12 to 19. For more information, visit www.CacheValleySquadron. org or e-mail info@cachevalleysquadron.org.

The John Birch Society meeting will host a discussion on current events and legislation at 7 p.m. Wednesday at The Book Table (upstairs). Participation is free and everyone is invited. For more information, call 753-2930.

Paradise hosts a farm and garden market from 6 to 8:30 p.m. every Wednesday in the town park. Music, educational classes and artists will join produce vendors and several local business people.

The Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market’s produce market is open from 4 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday at the Historic Cache County Courthouse, 199 N. Main, Logan.

Bridgerland Cruise Nights will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the south Wendy’s.

Bring your street rod, classic car or specialty vehicle, or just come check out the cars and trucks. Everyone is invited. For more information, contact Jerry at 563-6488.

Thursday Auditions for “Arsenic and Old Lace” will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday and 9 a.m.

Saturday at The Heritage Theatre in Perry, 2505 S. Highway 89. Cast requirements include 11 men ages 20-60, one woman age 20-30 and two older women. Be prepared to read cold from the script and bring a walletsized photo of yourself, a detailed list of all evening and Saturday conflicts from Aug. 9 through Nov. 7 and a resumé.

Papermoons will perform with Canoe, Adam and Darcie, and The Newsboys (folk/ indie/experimental) at 8 p.m. Thursday at Why Sound. Cover charge is $6.

A representative from “Blue Chip Foods” will teach guests how to use powdered honey and other everyday uses for other food storage items at a free cooking and community class from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the Providence Macey’s Little Theater.

The Knotty Knitters meet at 6:15 p.m. every Thursday at the Senior Citizen Center in Logan. Everyone is invited.

Upcoming events The second annual Providence Art in the Park event will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Von’s Park, 350 E. Center, Providence. There will be entertainment for all ages.

A Thomas X and George W. Smith Reunion will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Aug. 15 at Monument Park Stake Center in Salt Lake City. Talks on family roots in England and these brothers and their wives will be given. New and old books, CDs, histories, etc., will be available. Bring your own lunch; drinks and cookies will be provided.

Bring copies of your genealogy records and pictures. For more information, contact Gary Hansen at garyhansen1@aol.com.